Safety device for a high chair



March 19, 1963 T. c. GOOLSBY SAFETY DEVICE FOR A HIGH CHAIR Filed April 7, 1961 FIG. I

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. TES /Eu c. GOOLSBY 5' United rates atenr 3,082,035 SAFETY DEVICE FOR A HIGH CHAIR Tesiie C. Goolsby, New Albany, Miss.

(Rte. 1, Myrtle, Miss.) Filed Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 101,450 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-474) This invention relates to safety devices for high chairs and, more particularly, to the prevention of backward or sideward tilting of the high chair.

It is normal for children seated in high chairs to lean over too far causing changes in the center of gravity of the chair and occupant to such an extent that both the child and the chair fall to the floor, and frequently with results that cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device which when used in conjunction with a high chair will prevent the occupant of the high chair from tilting same so that the high chair cannot fall over and injure the occupant.

A further object is to break the forward fall of the occupant to damper the impact of the fall and thereby prevent serious injury.

A further object is to provide a simple device easily attachable to any or all high chairs which will effectively prevent tilting of the high chair.

A further object is to provide a device that will prevent the backward or sideward tilting of the high chair comprising a substantially rigid hook including a body portion having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said body portion being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and with said hook extending forwardly beyond said highchair and beneath a table adjacent the high chair, resilient means interposed between said high chair and said rearward portion to urge said hook to pivot in a direction to carry said forward portion upward and frictionally engage beneath the table top.

A further object is to provide such a device which is economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide such a device that is versatile.

A further object is generally :to improve the design and construction of safety devices for high chairs.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the device attached to a high chair and engaged beneath a table top, with the dotted lines representing the device in a depressed position for clearing the table flange and to allow movability of the high chair before the device is brought into the desired position relative to the table.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line III-III of FIG 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken 7 as on the line IVIV of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the safety attachment 7 11 of the present invention comprises, in general, a substantially rigid hook 12 including a body portion 13, a forward portion and a rearward portion 17.

Safety device 11 is so designed and made that it can be used in conjunction with any style of high chair. The ordinary high chair '19 is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 not for preference or limitation, but rather for convenience in description.

Referring now more specifically to safety attachment 11, the attachment is preferably, though not necessarily,

formed from metal tubing which is bent in such a shape to establish body portion 13 with forward portion 15 extending upwardly therefrom and rearward portion 17 extending downwardly therefrom. Both forward portion 15 and rearward portion 17 are formed by a simple degree bend establishing the body portion 13 therebetween to afford ease and economy in manufacturing. Forward portion 15 terminates in an upper end, with the upper end being covered with a gripping cap 21 of rubber, plastic or other suitable gripping material which will enable the upper end to develop a frictional engagement with any surface with which it may come in contact.

At the juncture from which rearward portion 17 is depending from body portion 13, there are horizontally aligned apertures 23 and 25 through which a pin 27 passes, forming a horizontal axis about which hook 12 can pivot vertically. Pin 27 also extends through apertures 29 and 31 of a U-shaped bracket 33, which apertures are adjacent apertures 23 and 25 respectively, and in alignment therewith. U-sh-aped bracket 33 is preferably, though not necessarily, made of metal with a base section 35 and two flanges 37 and 39 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The flanges '37 and 39 are the actual portions of bracket 33 through which apertures '29 and 31 respectively pass. Base section 35 affords a means of attaching safety attachment 11 to high chair 19 by wood screws 41 extending through apertures therein, which provides an easy and simple means of attachment.

Pin 27 is provided with a head 43 at one end which extends on the outside of flange 39 and the pin is provided with a hole 45 passing through the pin at the opposite end adjacent flange 37 to receive a cotter key 47 to hold the pin in place.

Rearward portion 17 terminates in a lower end, with the lower end being covered with a cap 49 of suitable construction similar :to cap 21, so that the sharp edge of the lower end is covered. Adjacent cap 49 is an aperture 51 in rearward portion 17 through which aperture passes a cotter key 53 that provides a means for attaching a spring 55 to rearward portion 17. Spring 55 is attached to a forward portion of chair 19 so that the spring urges rearward portion 17 forwardly. This place of attachment of spring 55 to chair 19 is preferably, though not necessarily, a rung 57 of high chair 19 where the spring is looped therearound with the ends of the spring being held by cotter key 53, as above described. This provides a very convenient and easy means for assembling spring 55 .to safety device 11 and to high chair 19.

The present invention is adapted to be used with a table 59, the height of which may vary within practical limits and of which flange 61 is advantageous for additional resistance to tilting of the high chair. It will be understood that flange 61 is not necessary since the frictional force between cap 21 and the undersurface of table top 63 will supply suflicient resistance, and flange 61 would only be advantageous if the chair was moved straight back I away from the table.

Hook 12, which is pivotally mounted in U-shaped bracket 33, as heretofore described, to allow vertical rotation, may be depressed (as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1) to allow high chair 19 to be placed in a position next to table 59. After high chair 1 9 is in position hook 1 2 is released and spring 55 will contact pulling r'earward portion 17 forwardly and downwardly to cause hook =12 to rotate counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, about the horizontal axis of pin 27. This rotation in turn forces forward portion 15 upwardly until gripping cap 21 comes in contact iwth the underside of top 63 thereby developing friction resistance with the top and preventing high chair 19 from tilting backward or sideward.

It can readily be seen that if the occupant of the chair 19 slides forwardly, his body will be caught on body portion 13, forcing body portion 13 downwardly against the resilience of spring 55 to prevent the impact of a full free fall.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a very useful device is provided which greatly adds to the safety of infants in high chairs. Thus, the safety device prevents tilting if the infant stands up or if he .puts his feet against the table and pushes back as so many infants are inclined to do. In addition, such a device is provided which is easily attached to existing high chairs simply by a pair of wood screws, and that the device may be varied in the distance from the table, as the child grows older, simply by moving the wood screws. Also, such a device is provided which forms a very convenient handle means for pulling the chair around to a desired position.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a high chair having a bottom and a table having a top, of a safety attachment for said high chair comprising a susbtantially rigid hook including a body portion having a forward end and a rearward end, a forward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the forward end thereof and upstanding therefrom, said forward portion terminating in an upper end, said forward portion including a gripping cap covering said upper end thereof, a rearward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the rearward end of said body portion and depending therefrom, means pivotally mounting said hook from said high chair beneath said bottom thereof with said hook being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and with said hook extending forwardly beyond said high chair and beneath said table, resilient means interposed between said high chair and said rearward portion to urge said hook to pivot in a direction to carry said forward portion upwardly and said cap into frictional engagement with said top of said table thereby preventing said high chair from overturning.

2. In combination, a high chair having a bottom and a rung adjacent the forward portion thereof, a table having a top, and a safety attachment for said high chair comprising a substantially rigid hook including a body portion having a forward end and a rearward end, a

forward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the forward end thereof and upstanding therefrom, said forward portion terminating in an upper end, said forward portion including a gripping cap covering said upper end thereof, a rearward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the rearward end of said body portion and depending therefrom, a bracket attached to said chair beneath said bottom thereof, pin means pivotally mounting said hook on said bracket adjacent the junction of said body portion and said rearward portion so that said hook is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis with said hook extending forwardly beyond said high chair and beneath said table, an elongated spring having a pair of ends, a cotter pin, said rearward portion being provided with an aperture therethrough receiving said cotter pin, said spring being looped around said rung with said ends of said spring being held by said cotter pin, said rearward portion being urged forwardly by said spring to urge said hook to pivot in a direction to carry said forward portion upwardly and said cap into frictional engagement with said top of said table thereby preventing said high chair from overturning.

3. A safety attachment for a high chair comprising a substantially rigid hook including a body portion having a forward end and a rearward end, a forward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the forward end thereof and upstanding therefrom, said forward portion terminating in an upper end, said forward portion including a gripping cap covering said upper end thereof, a rearward portion attached to said body portion adjacent the rearward end of said body portion and depending therefrom, means attached to said hook for pivotally mounting said hook from a high chair beneath the bottom thereof with said hook being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and with said hook extending forwardly beyond the high chair and beneath a table, resilient means attached to said rearward portion and being arranged for attachment to a high chair to urge said hook to pivot in a direction to carry said forward portion upwardly and said cap into frictional engagement beneath the top of a table thereby preventing a high chair from overturning.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,339 Ducey Feb. 13, 1951 2,469,662 Gottfried Oct. 22, 1946 2,707,987 Gibson May 10, 1955 2,827,953 Jones Mar. 25, 1958 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A HIGH CHAIR HAVING A BOTTOM AND A TABLE HAVING A TOP, OF A SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SAID HIGH CHAIR COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID HOOK INCLUDING A BODY PORTION HAVING A FORWARD END AND A REARWARD END, A FORWARD PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT A FORWARD END THEREOF AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM, SAID FORWARD PORTION TERMINATING IN AN UPPER END, SAID FORWARD PORTION INCLUDING A GRIPPING CAP COVERING SAID UPPER END THEREOF, A REARWARD PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE REARWARD END OF SAID BODY PORTION AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID HOOK FROM SAID HIGH CHAIR BENEATH SAID BOTTOM THEREOF WITH SAID HOOK BEING PIVOTABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS AND WITH SAID HOOK EXTENDING FORWARDLY BEYOND SAID HIGH CHAIR AND BENEATH SAID TABLE, RESILIENT MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID HIGH CHAIR AND SAID REARWARD PORTION TO URGE SAID HOOK TO PIVOT IN A DIRECTION TO CARRY SAID FORWARD PORTION UPWARDLY AND SAID CAP INTO FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TOP OF SAID TABLE THEREBY PREVENTING SAID HIGH CHAIR FROM OVERTURNING. 